Exposure of nail salon workers to phthalates, di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate, and organophosphate esters: A pilot study

Relatively little is known about exposure of nail technicians to semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in nail salons. We collected pre- and post-shift urine samples and silicone wrist bands (SWBs) worn on lapels and wrists from 10 female nail technicians in the Boston area in 2016-17. We analyzed samples for phthalates, phthalate alternatives, and organophosphate esters (OPEs) or their metabolites. Post-shift urine concentrations were generally higher than pre-shift for SVOC metabolites; the greatest change was for a metabolite of the phthalate alternative di(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (DEHTP): mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) terephthalate (MECPTP) more than tripled from 11.7 to 36.6 µg/g creatinine. DEHTP biomarkers were higher in our study participants’ post-shift urine compared to 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey females. Urinary MECPTP and another DEHTP metabolite were moderately correlated (r=0.37-0.60) with DEHTP on the SWBs, suggesting occupation as a source of exposure....